Power transmission mechanism



Feb. 23, 1965 Filed May 7, 1963 s. PETERSON 3,170Q563 POWER TRANSMISSIONMECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR SEYMOUR PETERSON ATTORNEYS Feb. 23,1965 s. PETERSON POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May7, 1963 rI:41I!I!ilrlllllllllrlllllllllldllla. III-in:

mn%w m m m p w M mm 5 Feb. 23, 1965 Filed May 7, 1963 s. PETERSON3,170,563

POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 7 /7 INVENTOR. ISeguoun PETERSON AT TORNEYS United States Patent 4 3,170,563 IcePatented Feb. 23,1965

3,170,563" POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Seymour Peterson, Dassel, Minn.,assignor to Storm Industries, Inc, Based, Minn., a corporation ofMinnesota Filed May 7,1963, Ser. No. 278,627

3 Claims.- (Cl. 198-137) means.

More specifically, my invention envisions an endless power transmittingbelt formed from spring steel or the like and entrained-over a pluralityof guide wheels having relatively thin peripheral portions and undersufficient tension thereagainst' to impart a cross-sectional radius tosaid belt at their respective points of contact. With such anarrangement, I have found that the spring steel belt is retained inoperative position on the guide wheels whenever the axis of rotationthereof is normal to the path of the belt. Consequently, by slighttilting of the axis of selected adjacent. guide wheels the belt, atchosen points along its path of travel, may be caused to incline ordecline as desired.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of theclass immediately above described wherein means is provided for varyingthe tension of at least one of the guide wheels with respect to the beltso as to vary the tension exerted by all of the guide wheels on thebelt.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of theclass described wherein means is provided for tilting the axis of aselected one or more of the guide wheels. 7

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of theclass described wherein one of the longitudinal edges of the belt isleft free for mounting ofarticle-supporting platforms and has suchplatforms mounted thereon.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device ofthe class described which incorporates a minimum of working parts andconsequently may be manufactured and sold at a relatively low price.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device ofthe class immediately above described which is durable in use andrelatively foolproof in its operation.

- .15 function of providing a continuous article-transporting The aboveand still further objects of my invention will become apparent from thefollowing detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters in dicate like partsthroughout the several views: a

FIG. 1 is a view in top plan of a conveying system constructed inacordance with my invention, some parts being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section as seen substantially from the line2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view in vertical section as seen from the line 6-6 of FIG.1, on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 7 is a view in vertical section as seen from the line 7-7 of FIG.1, on a greatly enlarged scale;

FIG. 8 is a further view in vertical section taken on the line 8-8 ofFIG. 2, on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the belt shown in FIG. 1showing conveying platforms attached thereto; and

FIG; 10 is a view in vertical section as seen from th line 10-10- ofFIG. 9.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings,

the letter A indicates in its entirety a frame-like supporting structureupon which is mounted at spaced points therealong, a plurality ofgenerally horizontally disposed rotary guide wheels 1. Each of the guidewheels 1 is mounted for rotation on generally vertically disposed shafts2 suitably mounted in vertically spacedupper and lower bearings 3, 4.For a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent, thebearings 3, 4.associated with at least one of the guide wheels 1, is so constructed topermit'tilting of the axis of the associated shaft 2. Specifically, andas shown particularly in FIGS. 4 and 7, this is accomplished by meansmounting the upper bearing 3 for lateral sliding adjustments in adirection transversely of the axis of its shaft 2. Thus, plate-likebearing mount 5, secured to web elements 6, is longitudinally slidablyadjustable with respect to frame members 7 through the mediumrofnut-equipped locking bolts 8 which project through the bifurcated outerends of the web elements 6 and through slots 9 defined by said frameelements 7, responsive to tightening and loosening movements of the nuts10 on adjustment bolts 11. On the other hand, movement of the bearingplate 5 in the opposite direction is accomplished by tightening andloosening movements of the lock nut 12 on adjustment bolt 13, when thenuts associated with the clamping bolts 8 have been loosened, therebycausing said clamping bolts 8 to move within their respectivebifurcations 14.

Entrained over the guide wheels 1 is an endless spring metal belt 15,the transverse width of which is relatively great as compared to therelatively thin peripheral portions 16 defined by the guide Wheels 1. Asshown, the plane of each of the guide wheels 1 is generally parallel tothe path of travel of belt 15, and is so positioned with respect theretoas to cause engagement of the peripheral portion 16 with the centralportion of the belt 15 intermediate its longitudinal upper and loweredges 17, 18, respectively.

As shown, the guide wheel 1a is mounted for movable adjustments towardand away from engagement with the belt 15 whereby to vary the forceexerted by all of the guide wheels 1 on said belt 15. Preferably, and asshown, this is accomplished through the medium of securing the wheel 1ato a sub-frame 19 which is superimposed upon the main frame A and ismounted for sliding movements with respect thereto by a jackscrew 20 anda travelling nut 21, the former carried by the main frame A and thelatter by the sub-frame 19. To facilitate manual adjustment the screw 20is provided with asprocket 22 over which is entrained a chain 23. Chain23 is also entrained over a sprocket 24 fast on a rotary shaft 25carried by the main frame A immediately below the subframe 19. Shaft 25is provided at its outer end with a crank 26.

While I wish it to be understood that the means for imparting drivingmovements to the belt 15 may be through any given one of the guidewheels 1, or alternatively through independent means not shown,nevertheless such movement, as shown, is imparted to the belt 15 throughconventional power transmission mechanism identified generally at 27,and connected to a source of power, not shown, through power input shaft28.

With the novel combination and arrangement of parts above described,wherein the belt is caused to assume a cross-sectionally arcuatecondition at each point of contact with'the guide wheel's 1 (similar toa crown pulley),

the relatively thin H peripheral portion. of each wheel tends to seekthe transverse center of the belt 15, between the longitudinal edges 17,18, even when the axis of rotation istilted slightly for the purpose ofraising or lowering the beltat'any point along its path of travel.Consequently, the opposite edge portions 17, 18 of the belt 15 are left.free for mounting of article carrying platforms,

such as the platforms 29, secured to the upper longitudinal edge 17.Platforms 29 are in the nature of -egg'collec-' tion cups associatedwith the egg collection systenrsuch as shown in myPate'nt 3,042,184.

'My invention hassbeen thoroughlytested and found l to be completelysatisfactory :fot the accomplishment of the above objects, and while Ihave shownra preferred embodiment thereof; 1 wish it to be understoodthat same may be capable of modification Without departurerfrom V thescope and spiritof the What is claimed is: V

1. Power transmission mechanism .comprising:' (a) 'an endlessrelatively-widemetallic spring belt, (11') anda plurality of guidewheels mounted for rotation on axes generally, parallel to the plane ofsaid appended claims.

belt andat longitudinally spaced points along the" path of traveldefined-by said belt, a V (c) saidlguide wheels having axiallyrelatively thin peripheral portions engaging the adjacent portion ofsaid belt intcrmediatevits opposite side edges with sufiicie'nt force.to impart a cross-sectional radius thereto at said points; V

of travel defined by saidbelt;

peripheral portions engaging the ad acent portion of said beltintermediate its opposite side edges withi sulficient force to impartalcross sectional radius thereto at said points, 7

of said belt for suppor-tingand conveyingarticles. 3. The structuredefined in claim 2 in which saidmeans comprises a plurality oflongitudinallyi spaced article-H w supporting platforms carried by theupper portion of said belt. H a v References Cited by theExarninen VUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,149,563

3/39 Warner "198184 2,334,959 .9/45 Pearson 198lO9 -X" 2,711,130 "6/55Guettler l9 8 l67 X 2,855,094 10/5 Zebarth 4198-230 7 SAMUEL F. COL EMANQ PI imm'y Examiner.

ERNEST A; FALLER, JR., Examiner.

and at longitudinally 's'pacedpoints alongthe path (c) said guide wheelshaving axially: relatively '.thin

(d) and meanscarried by oneof the longitudinal edges

1. POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM COMPRISING: (A) AN ENDLESS RELATIVELYWIDE METALLIC SPRING BELT, (B) AND A PLURALITY OF GUIDE WHEELS MOUNTEDFOR ROTATION AN AXES GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SAID BELT AND ATLONGITUDINALLY SPACED POINTS ALONG THE PATH OF TRAVEL DEFINED BY SAIDBELT. (C) SAID GUIDE WHEELS HAVING AXIALLY RELATIVELY THIN PERIPHERALPORTIONS ENGAGING THE ADJACENT PORTION OF SAID BELT INTERMEDIATE ITSOPPOSITE SIDE EDGES WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO IMPART A CROSS-SECTIONALRADIUS THERETO AT SAID POINTS, (D) AND MEANS FOR TILTING THE AXIS OF ONEOF SAID GUIDE WHEELS WHEREBY TO VARY THE PLANE OF THE PATH OF TRAVELDEFINED BY SAID BELT.